Besigye doesn't want to be my friend — Kayihura

By John Agaba

THE Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura, treated Makerere University students to rare surprise when he described opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye as a “clear man” who takes a stand and sticks to it.

This coming two days after the outspoken former leader of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) was arrested on charges of unlawful assembly at Nakivubo last week and his vehicle glasses reportedly vandalized, was sure to raise eyebrows.

But the Police Kayihura didn’t stop there. He, in fact, chorused how he respected the former presidential candidate.

“I respect Dr. Besigye. I tried to be his friend. I even went to his home. But he refused to be my friend. I respect Dr. Besigye because he is clear with his stand. I respect someone who takes a stand and sticks to it. Not opportunists.”   

The IGP, however, said that he would not apologize to the opposition leader over the incident that has received a lot of criticism from many in the opposition and human right’s defenders.

“For that, I will not apologize. Dr. Besigye knows the law (the Public Order Law). What he is doing he cannot do in any other country the world over,” said Kayihura while addressing the students on Saturday.

“You cannot go to Kiseeka Market, to Owino Market to incite violence, and think we shall allow that. You are enjoying your peace, you hear, Besigye is now in Kiseeka, Besigye is now in Owino. That, we shall not allow. And I shall not apologize.”

“Besigye is free to hold his views, to do whatever he does, but he has to do it within the law. Let him write to us. We shall even give him protection. He is acting irresponsibly,” said the IGP.